Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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Uncle and Aunt is in Uncles, Aunts, Nephews and Nieces.
In 1051 Matthew Poher Count Nantes died. His aunt Judith succeeded Countess Nantes.
In 1369 Joan Lucy 4th Baroness Lucy died. Her aunt Maud [aged 26] succeeded 5th Baroness Lucy.
In 1519 Elizabeth Grey Countess Devon [aged 13] died. Her aunt Elizabeth [aged 39] succeeded 6th Baroness Lisle.
On 30th May 1630 Emanuel Scrope 1st Earl of Sunderland [aged 45] died. Earl of Sunderland extinct. His aunt Mary de jure 12th Baroness Scrope of Bolton; she didn't claim the title.
In 1664 Thomas Nicolson 2nd Baronet [aged 36] died. His aunt Margaret succeeded 5th Lord Napier of Merchistoun.
On 23rd April 1686 Henrietta Marie Wentworth 6th Baroness Wentworth [aged 25] died. She was buried at St George of England Church, Toddington. Her aunt Anne [aged 62] succeeded 7th Baroness Wentworth, de jure 11th Baroness Despencer.
In 1711 Captain Thomas Glemham died. His aunt Katherine [aged 53] abeyance terminated 8th Baroness Berners.
On 18th June 1917 Ada King-Milbanke 14th Baroness Wentworth [aged 46] died. His aunt Anne [aged 79] succeeded 15th Baroness Wentworth, 19th Baroness Despencer.